[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] In director Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey*, there is one face among the crew members who joined Odysseus on his perilous voyage that stands out in particular. It is Korean-American actor Will Yun Lee.

In *The Martian*, Will Yun Lee played Ankyalos, one of Odysseus’s (Matt Damon) crew members. Although not a leading role, he makes his presence felt throughout Odysseus’s journey. In particular, he left a strong impression in the Siren scene, making him a familiar face to Korean audiences.
Although he may seem like a unfamiliar face, Will Yoon Lee is a veteran who has been active in Hollywood for over 20 years. His Korean name is Lee Sang-wook. He was born in 1971 in Virginia, USA, to Korean parents. His father, Master Lee Soo-woong, taught Taekwondo in the U.S., and Will Yoon Lee also began practicing Taekwondo from a young age. These martial arts skills later became a key asset as he established himself as an action actor in Hollywood.
Having begun his acting career in the late 1990s, he has appeared in numerous Hollywood films, including *007: Another Day*, *Elektra*, *The Wolverine*, *Spy*, and *San Andreas*. He has also steadily made a name for himself on the small screen, playing Takashi Kovach in “Altered Carbon” and Dr. Alex Park in the ABC drama “The Good Doctor.”

He also has a history of working alongside BoA on a project. Will Yoon Lee played the role of Kazu in the dance film *Make Your Move*, which marked BoA’s Hollywood debut. As the older brother of Aya (played by BoA) and the owner of a club, he was listed among the main cast alongside BoA and Derek Hough.
Even for someone who has been active in Hollywood for over 20 years, “Odyssey” was no easy challenge. Looking back on the filming, Will Yoon Lee revealed that it was the biggest journey of his entire Hollywood career and one of the most grueling projects he’s ever undertaken. He traveled across multiple countries, from Morocco to Iceland, and sometimes had to hike up a mountain for an hour every day while wearing armor to reach the set. In Iceland, he also endured grueling shoots that continued into the early hours of the morning on black sand beaches.

He threw himself into the role to bring the film’s sense of realism to life. According to actor Ryan De Quental, who filmed the Siren scene with him, Will Yoon Lee actually jumped into the Mediterranean Sea to portray a sailor enchanted by the Sirens’ song. The actors filmed on a real ship in the waters near the Aeolian Islands in Italy, and the actresses playing the Sirens also completed the scene while perched on rocks.
Will Yoon Lee also found special meaning in experiencing Nolan’s set up close. Although the shoot was grueling, he expressed his gratitude, comparing the experience of observing Nolan at work to watching a master painter create a masterpiece from the front row.
Raised as the son of a taekwondo master, he trained in martial arts and has appeared in everything from “007” and Marvel films to BoA’s Hollywood debut. Having carved out a place for himself in Hollywood for over 20 years, Will Yoon Lee is now boarding Nolan’s ship to once again make his mark on audiences worldwide.